Lap-desk.



H. L. BOWMAN.

LAP DESK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

172 Var/ 07? flak/Z L. fiawrnan/ JX/MM HELEN L. BOWMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLlNOIS.

LAP-DESK.

Specification Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908 Application filed June 8, 1908. Serial No. 437,271.

" companying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to lap desks, and contemplates an improved construction and arrangement which will make the desk more simple, and at the same time increase its usefulness.

' The lap desk of my invention can be built of very light material, preferably wood, and can be folded together to take up very little It is also easily handled and held on t e lap.

In the accompanying drawings, which plainly illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the parts unfolded to form the desk; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on plane 22 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows another position in which the desk can be used; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on plane 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows the parts of the desk folded together, and Fig. 6 shows the parts comprising the desk all arranged in a horizontal plane.

The desk body comprises the top and bot tom parts 1 and 2, and the back part 3. The parts 1 and 2 are hinged together at one edge, as by means of hinges 4, so that these parts can be folded together, as shown in Fig. 5, or arranged at an angle as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The back part is hinged at the rear edge of one of the members 1 and 2, being shown as hinged to the rear edge of the top member 1, as by means of hinges 5.

When the parts are in position to form the desk, the back part 3 assumes an upright position, as shown in Fig. 1, resting with its free edge against the part 2. A section is cut from the hinged edges of the arts 1 and 2 to leave the more or less circu ar edges 6 and 7, which, when the members are in the position shown in Fig. 1, form a sort of pocket for the user's body, the desk being thus held more securely in place on the lap, and its main surface being also brought closer to the person. The back member 3 may also have a section cut therefrom, to secure lightness. The part 2 rests on the lap in a more or less horizontal position, and the art 1 forms the inclined desk surface. A

ead 8 may be provided to the part 1, which preferably runs lengthwise thereof, just inside the curved edge 6, and serves to prevent papers or other objects from sliding from the desk. To secure the back part 3 in its upright position, plugs or screws 9 may be provided near the rear edge of the part2, so spaced as to confine the engaging edge of the part 3 against transverse movement on the part 2.

I also provide a copy-holder 10 for the desk, in the form of a rectangular panel, or board, which is hinged to the rear edge of the top member 1 and so that it may be swung forwardly to lie against the top member. To look the copy-holder in its upper position, a spring bar or plate 1 1 is secured at all-intermediate point 12 to the back of the copyholder board, its lower section 13 having a hole 14 at its end for engaging over a pin or the head of a screw 15 secured near the upper edge of the back part 3. The end edge of the section 13 may also be bent outwardly a trifle, so that when the copy-holder is swung rearwardly, the end of the spring plate will slide over the pin or screw head to guide the opening to the pin or screw head. The other 1 part 16 of the spring plate widens out at its end and is bent forwardly over the upper edge of the copy-holder board, and then downwardly, the downwardly extending end 17 forming a clamping plate under which papers, books or other copy material may be inserted, the end being V-shaped, with its edges bent outwardly, in order that the papers, books or other cogly material may be more readily inserted t ereunder. As the plate 11 is of s ring material, the clamped end 17 will be old toward the copy-holder board, and any copy material. thus securely held-in place.

When the parts are to be folded, the spring frame is first disengaged from the pin or screw 15, and the copy-holder swung against the top 1. The back part 2 is then swung inwardly against the part 1, and the parts 1 and 2 brought together, the parts then being in relatively folded position, as shown in Fig. 5. If it is not desired to use the copy holder, the desk can be reversed, so that the part 2 will form the top board, this position being shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Also, if it is not desired to have the top on an incline, the backboard 3 need not be raised. When the desk is unfolded, the bottom member forms a shelf for storing objects, which can be slipped in from the front between the edges 6 and 7 or from the rear or from the sides.

I claim as follows:

1. In a lap desk, the combination of two rectangular planar members hinged together at one edge and adapted thereby to be folded together and to be extended to be at an angle with each other, a third member pivoted to one of the planar members to be interposed between the planar members to hold them a art when swung to an angle, a copy holder hinged to an edge of one of the planar members, a spring member carried by the copy holder, and a detent member for engaging with the spring member to lock the copy 'holder in open position.

2. In a lap desk, the combination of a planar member forming the desk top, an upright member hinged to the planar member to be folded against said planar member or to be swung to an upright position to thereby hold the planar member in inclined position, a copy holder hinged to the planar member, a spring frame on the copy holder having an opening, and a pin secured in the upright member for engagement with said opening to hold the copy holder in position.

3. In a lap desk, the combination of two rectangular similar planar members .hinged together at their inner edges to be thus folded together or to be swung to an angle with each other, a supporting member hinged to the outer edge of one of the planar members to be swung against said member or to be swung to an upright position to engage between the planar members to hold said members at angles with each other, a copy holder in the form of a panel hinged to the outer edge of the planar member to which the supporting member is hinged and in position to be swung against said planar member or to be swung to an upright position, a projection on the supporting member, and a spring member-on the copy holder adapted for latching engagement with the extension when the copy holder is swung to an upright position to hold the copy holder in such position.

4. In a lap desk, the combination of two planar members hinged together at their inner edges to be folded together or to be swung at an angle to each other, a supporting member hinged to the outer edge of said planar member to be folded against said planar member or to be swung to an upright position between the members to hold said members in their relative angular position, a panel hinged at one edge to the edge of the planar member to which the supporting member is hinged and in position to be folded against said planar member or to be swung to an upright position to form a support for copy material, a spring plate secured to the back of the panel and aving an opening at its lower end, a projection on the supporting member for having latching engagement with the hole in the spring member when the panel is swung to an upright position, the top of said spring member folding over the top edge of the panel to form a clamping plate for securing copy material to the panel.

5. In a lap desk, the combination of two planar members hinged together at their inner edges to be folded together or to be swung at an angle with each other, .a prop member for holding the planar members apart, a copy holder hinged to one of the planar, members, a spring plate secured at an intermediate point to the said copyholder, a spring clip formed at the upper end of said spring plate, aspring latch formed at the lower end of said spring plate and a detent member extending from the prop to be engaged by the latch end to lock the copy holder in upright position.

6. In a lap desk, the combination of two planar members 1 and 2 hinged together at one edge, the hinged edges of the planar members having concave sections out therefrom to form a pocket for receiving the users body, a prop member 3 hinged to one of the planar members, extensions. 9 from the other planar member for .locking the prop member in position, and a copy holder hinged to the top planar member.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of May, 1908.

HELEN L. BOWMAN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, LEONARD W. NOVANDER. 

